Combination of a lockable, soft tonneau cover and lockable tailgate

ABSTRACT

The combination of a lockable, soft, flexible tonneau cover for the bed of a pickup truck or similar vehicle and a lockable tailgate. The preferred embodiment includes grooved front, side, and rear rails into which retainer belts on the perimeter of the tonneau cover are insertable to position the cover over the vehicle bed. The front and side rails are respectively attached to the tops of the front and side walls of the bed. The rear rail is mounted to extend and be suspended across the tailgate opening between the side rails. A catch is provided to selectively lock the rear rail in place and keep the rear rail and attached cover in the locked, down position over the bed. In the preferred embodiment, the catch for the rear rail is only accessible through the tailgate opening and the tailgate is lockable. Consequently, to unlock and remove the tonneau cover to expose the bed and its contents, the tailgate must first be unlocked and opened to provide access to the catch for the rear rail. In this manner, increased security is provided by the combination of the lockable tonneau cover and lockable tailgate of the present invention. In another embodiment, the lock for the rear rail is remotely controlled by an electronic actuator.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/100,039 filed Sep. 11, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of soft, tonneau covers and moreparticularly to the field of soft, tonneau covers for the beds of pickuptrucks and similar vehicles.

2. Discussion of the Background

Soft, tonneau covers for pickup trucks and similar vehicles (such assport utility ones with exposed beds or decks) help to cover and protectthe beds of the vehicles and any items in them. Such covers typicallyare made of flexible fabric, canvas, or vinyl. Additionally, theycommonly have a relatively low profile (i.e., extend relatively flatacross the top of the bed walls) and can be easily moved to cover anduncover the bed and its contents. They are also often easily andconveniently storable on the vehicle when not in use or easily removedcompletely from the vehicle for separate storage.

Currently, such soft covers are normally not lockable and can be removedby anyone at any time from over the bed of the vehicle. Some covers likeU.S. Pat. No. 5,076,338 to Schmeichel et al. secure the soft cover inplace over the bed with nominal locking arrangements but do not do so incombination with a lockable tailgate to create true security.

With this in mind, the lockable tonneau cover and lockable tailgatecombination of the present invention was developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention involves a lockable, soft, flexible tonneau cover for thebed of a pickup truck or similar vehicle wherein the lockable tonneaucover is used in combination with a lockable tailgate for increasedsecurity. The preferred embodiment includes grooved front, side, andrear rails into which retainer belts on the perimeter of the tonneaucover are insertable to position the cover over the vehicle bed. Thefront and side rails are respectively attached to the tops of the frontand side walls of the bed. The rear rail is mounted to extend and besuspended across the tailgate opening between the side rails.

The mounting for the rear rail includes corner pieces on each side wallof the bed to which the rear rail is pivotally mounted for movementbetween up and down positions. In the up position, the retainer belt onthe rear edge of the untensioned cover can be easily inserted into thegroove in the rear rail. Thereafter, the rear rail can be manuallyrotated or pushed down to its closed position to tension or tighten thecover and move it completely over the vehicle bed. A catch is providedto selectively lock the rear rail in place and keep the rear rail andattached cover in the locked, down position over the bed.

The catch for the rear rail is only accessible through the rear,tailgate opening and the combination of the present invention alsoincludes a tailgate that is lockable. Consequently, to unlock and removethe tonneau cover to expose the bed and its contents, the tailgate mustfirst be unlocked and opened to provide access to the catch for the rearrail. In this manner, increased security is provided by the combinationof the lockable tonneau cover and lockable tailgate of the presentinvention.

In another embodiment, the lock for the rear rail is remotely controlledby an electronic actuator in an equally secure manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination of the present inventionof a lockable, soft tonneau cover and lockable tailgate. The soft,tonneau cover in FIG. 1 is shown in use covering the bed of a pickuptruck.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the soft, tonneau cover removedand the tailgate in its closed position.

FIG. 3 shows the soft, tonneau cover of the present invention in itsdown, locked position covering the bed and the tailgate in its openposition.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4—4 of FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrating howthe cover can be attached to the side rails on the side walls of thevehicle bed.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5—5 of FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrating howthe cover can be attached to the front rail on the front wall of thevehicle bed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the corner pieces to which therear rail and cover are pivotally mounted.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of FIG. 6 further illustrating how the rearrail is pivotally mounted to each corner piece.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8—8 of FIG. 1 andgenerally along line 8—8 of FIGS. 6 and 7 showing the rear rail andcover in their closed or down position. FIG. 8 also shows the tailgatein dotted lines in its closed position.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating the rear rail and coverin their up or open position. FIG. 9 also illustrates the tailgate beingmoved to an open position.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8 showing a modifiedlocking arrangement for the rear rail and attached cover in which thecatch for the rear rail is spring-biased toward its locking position.

FIG. 11 illustrates how the downward movement of the rear rail andattached flipper member toward the closed, locked position can be usedto cam the catch of the locking arrangement out of the way to let theflipper member pass by it to the position of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 illustrating a modified lockingarrangement in which the catch is electronically controlled by asolenoid remotely actuated from the vehicle cabin or from a portableactuator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the soft, flexible tonneau cover 1 of the present inventionin the closed or down and locked position over the bed of the vehicle 3(e.g., pickup truck). The bed as best seen in FIG. 2 is formed anddefined by front wall 5, side walls 7, and the tailgate 9 in the closedposition of FIG. 2. The tailgate 9 is shown as being mounted for pivotalmovement about horizontal axis 11 in FIG. 3 but could also beconventionally mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. Thetailgate 9 as illustrated can be manually moved between the closed andopen positions of FIGS. 2 and 3. In the open position of FIG. 3, rearaccess to the bed is provided through the tailgate opening 9′ betweenthe side walls 7. In the closed position of FIG. 2, the tailgate 9,front wall 5, and side walls 7 then form and define an upper opening 1′to the bed of the vehicle 3. The closed tailgate 9 in this regard servesto form the fourth wall of the bed with the front and side walls 5 and 7forming the other three walls of the bed.

The tonneau cover 1 of FIG. 1 is preferably made of a single, continuoussheet or piece of flexible material (e.g., fabric, canvas, or vinyl)that is slightly elastic and stretchable. In use (and in the knownmanners of co-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,757,854; 5,702,147; and 5,765,903),relatively rigid belts 17 as in FIG. 4 can be attached (e.g., sewn) tothe edges of the substantially rectangular cover 1 and removablyreceived or attached in grooves or channels like 19 in side rail 21 (seeFIG. 4). If desired, a P-welt or arrangement of a dowel 23 and C-shapedchannel 25 (see FIG. 5) could be used as for example with the front rail27.

The front and side rails 27 and 21 in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 are attached ormounted to the tops of the front and side walls 5 and 7 of the vehicle3. The rails 27 and 21 could also be molded into the walls 5 and 7 ifdesired. The rear rail 31 as best seen in FIG. 3 is mounted to extendand be suspended across the tailgate opening 9′ between the two sidewalls 7. The mounting for the rear rail 31 includes corner pieces 33(see FIG. 3) on each side of the bed to which the rear rail 31 ispivotally mounted. More specifically as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, eachend of the rear rail 31 (see FIG. 8) is mounted on a rear end section 35of a flipper member 37. The flipper member 37 in turn is mounted by pinmember 39 to the corner piece 33 (see also FIGS. 6 and 7) for pivotalmovement about the axis 41 relative to the corner piece 33 and the sidewalls 7. In the down, locked position of FIG. 8, the catch 43 isextended to keep the rear rail 31 and attached tonneau cover 1 in thisdown or closed position fully covering the bed of vehicle 3 as in FIG.1).

In operation as best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the catch 43 is slidablymounted or supported for movement in the channel 45 of each corner piece33 between the extended, locking position of FIG. 8 and the retracted,non-locking position of FIG. 9. The retaining belt 17′ on the rear edgeof the cover 1 is preferably first inserted into the groove or channel19′ of the rear rail 31 with the rear rail 31 in the first or upposition of FIG. 9. The belt 17′ as best seen in FIG. 9 is preferablyone with a detent or protuberance 47 receivable in the mating recess 49of the channel 19′ (e.g., in the known manner of co-owned U.S. Pat. No.5,765,903). In this raised position of FIG. 9, the rear rail 31 iscloser to the front wall 5 than in the down, locked position of FIG. 8and the tonneau cover 1 is somewhat slack and loose. The belt 17′ canthen be fairly easily manipulated into the channel 19′ of the rear rail31. Thereafter, the rear rail 31 can be manually pivoted downwardly andaway from the front wall 5 from the position of FIG. 9 to the positionof FIG. 8. This positions the cover 1 fully over the upper opening tothe bed (see FIG. 1). It also draws the cover 1 taut and the rear belt17′ and side belts 17 tightly into the respective grooves 19′ and 19 inthe rear rail 31 and side rails 21 of FIGS. 4 and 8. In doing so, thecover 1 is slightly stretched both from front-to-rear and side-to-side.Preferably, the residual tension in the stretched cover 1 (bothfront-to-rear and side-to-side) will make it very difficult if notimpossible to remove the belts 17′ and 17 from the respective rails 31and 21.

In the closed, down position of the rear rail 31 and with the tailgate 9open as in FIG. 3, the handle 51 of the catch 43 can then be manuallyreached through the tailgate opening 9′ and slid rearwardly in thesupporting channel 45 (see FIG. 8) to the extended, locked position.This keeps the rear rail 31 in the down position of FIG. 8 and preventsthe rear rail 31 from moving out of the down position of FIG. 8 relativeto the corner pieces 33 and side walls 7. In doing so, the catch 43 isextended into what would be the normal, pivotal path 53 (see FIG. 9) ofthe end section 55 of the flipper member 37 between the positions ofFIGS. 8 and 9. The flipper front end section 55 in this regard and asillustrated is spaced from the pivotal axis 41.

If desired as shown in FIG. 10, the catch 43 could be spring-biased at57 toward the extended, locking position of FIG. 10. In this manner, thefront end section 55 of the flipper member 37 (see FIG. 11) could thencam the extended catch 43 out of the way as the front end section 55passes by the extended, biased catch 43. This would occur when theflipper member 37 and attached rear rail 31 were moved from the upposition (see FIG. 11) to the down position of FIG. 10. The same cammingaction would also occur if the unbiased catch 43 of FIG. 9 wereinadvertently extended into the predetermined path 53 of the end section55 when the rear rail 31 was being lowered from FIG. 9 to FIG. 8.

When the cover 1 is in the closed position, the catch 43 as illustratedin FIG. 3 is only accessible through the tailgate opening 91.Consequently, when the tailgate 9 is in the up or closed position ofFIGS. 1, 6, and 8, the catch 43 within the vehicle bed beneath the cover1 cannot be reached and access to the catch 43 is prevented. To thenunlock the cover 1 to expose the bed and its contents, the tailgate 9must first be opened as in FIG. 3. Since the tailgate 9 is also lockable(e.g., as by key lock 59 for latch 61 in FIG. 1), the combination of thelockable cover 1 and lockable tailgate 9 of the present invention servesto offer increased security to the vehicle owner.

In the preferred embodiments and with the rear rail 31 and attachedcover 1 in the down and locked position of FIG. 8, the closed tailgate 9(shown n dotted lines in FIG. 8) will abut the sealing member 63 on therear rail 31. The elongated, sealing member 63 could be on either therear rail 31 or the tailgate 9 but in either case, a substantiallywatertight seal is created when the tailgate 9 is closed against therear rail 31. Additionally, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the tailgate9 can be opened and closed without having to undo the cover 1 or movethe rear rail 31 from the down and locked position. In this regard, thetonneau cover 1 of the present invention can remain in the down andlocked position and does not need to be manipulated in any manner toopen the tailgate 9 to provide access through the tailgate opening 91 ofFIG. 3 to the bed and its contents. This is true whether the tailgate 9is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis 11 as shown inFIG. 3 or mounted for rotation about a vertical axis.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed in detail, it is to be understood that various changes andmodifications could be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, the rear rail 31 is shown and described as beingmounted for pivotal or rotational movement about the axis 41 relative tothe corner pieces 33 and side walls 7. However, the rear rail 31 couldbe mounted to slide horizontally relative to the corner pieces 33 ifdesired to draw the cover 1 taut over the vehicle bed. Further, thecatch 43 could also be electronically and/or remotely controlled (e.g.,mechanically or electronically) if desired to move between its extendedand retracted positions. In this regard, for example, an electronicactuator or switch 65 could be remotely provided in the vehicle cabin 3′as schematically illustrated in FIG. 12 to selectively control thesolenoid 67 to extend and retract the catch 43. Since the cabin doors 69in FIG. 1 are also lockable at 71 and the solenoid 67 and catch 43 areinaccessible with the tailgate 9 up and locked in the manner of FIG. 8,this remotely controlled arrangement from the cabin 3′ provides anequally secure system. The solenoid 67 in FIG. 12 could also be remotelycontrolled by radio or other electromagnetic waves received by theantenna 66 from a generating source such as actuator 65′ that was, forexample, in the cabin 3′ or part of a handheld, portable unit carried bythe vehicle owner. In the preferred embodiments including the remotelycontrolled ones, the tension in the stretched and closed cover 1 willcause the rear rail 31 and attached cover 1 to conveniently pop uptoward its open position when the catch 43 is released. The portableactuator 65′ (e.g., radio frequency) could also remotely control thelocks 59 and 71 for the tailgate 9 and vehicle doors 69 if desired.

I claim:
 1. An arrangement including a lockable, soft, flexible tonneaucover for a bed of a vehicle having at least a front wall and two sidewalls forming three walls of the bed, means for positioning said soft,flexible tonneau cover in a closed position to cover the bed of thevehicle, and means for selectively locking said tonneau cover in saidclosed position over said bed, said positioning means for said tonneaucover including a rear rail, means for mounting said rear rail to extendsubstantially between said two side walls of the bed, and means forattaching said tonneau cover to said rear rail, said rear rail beingmounted for movement relative to said two side walls toward and awayfrom said front wall between at least first and second positions, saidrear rail in said second position being farther away from the front wallthan in said first position, said rear rail in said second positionextending substantially horizontally between the two side walls, saidtonneau cover being in said closed position when said attached rear railis moved to said second position, and said locking means for saidtonneau cover including means for selectively keeping said rear rail insaid second position wherein said mounting means for said rear railmounts said rear rail for pivotal movement about an axis between saidfirst and second positions, said mounting means having an end sectionspaced from said pivotal axis, said end section moving along apredetermined path about the pivotal axis as said rear rail is pivotallymoved between said first and second positions, said means forselectively keeping said rear rail in said second position including acatch selectively movable into and away from said predetermined path toselectively prevent and permit said rear rail to be moved from saidsecond position to said first position, said catch being supported forsliding movement between respective positions preventing and permittingsaid rear rail to be moved from said second position to said firstposition.
 2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said rear rail ismounted for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axisbetween said first and second positions.
 3. The arrangement of claim 1wherein said catch is selectively movable linearly into and away fromsaid predetermined path to selectively prevent and permit said rear railto be moved from said second position to said first position.
 4. Thearrangement of claim 3 further including means for biasing said catchtoward said preventing position.
 5. The arrangement of claim 1 whereinsaid tonneau cover is removably attached to said rear rail.
 6. Thearrangement of claim 1 wherein said tonneau cover is removably attachedto said two side walls.
 7. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said meansfor positioning said cover in said closed position to cover the bed ofthe vehicle includes rails and means for attaching said railsrespectively atop said front and two side walls and means for removablyattaching said cover to said rails attached atop said front and two sidewalls.
 8. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said tonneau cover is madeof slightly elastic and stretchable material.
 9. The arrangement ofclaim 1 wherein said tonneau cover is made of one piece of materialextending over said bed between said side walls and between said frontwall and said rear rail when said rear rail is in said second position.10. The system of claim 1 wherein said locking means for said rear railreleasably locks said rear rail in said second position to at least oneof said side walls.
 11. An arrangement including a lockable, soft,flexible tonneau cover for a bed of a vehicle, means for positioningsaid soft, flexible tonneau cover in a closed position to cover the bedof the vehicle, means for selectively locking said tonneau cover in saidclosed position over said bed, and means for remotely controlling thelocking means for said tonneau cover.
 12. The combination of claim 11further including a rear rail, means for mounting said rear rail toextend substantially between said two side walls of the bed, and meansfor attaching said tonneau cover to said rear rail, said rear rail beingmounted for movement relative to said two side walls toward and awayfrom said front wall between at least first and second positions, saidrear rail in said second position being farther away from the front wallthan in said first position, said rear rail in said second positionextending substantially horizontally between the two side walls, saidtonneau cover being in said closed position when said attached rear railis moved to said second position, and said means for remotelycontrolling the locking means for said tonneau cover includes means forselectively preventing said rear rail from moving from said secondposition to said first position.
 13. The combination of claim 12 whereinsaid vehicle has a cabin and said means for remotely controlling thelocking means for said tonneau cover includes an actuator positioned insaid cabin.
 14. The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said vehicle has acabin and said means for remotely controlling the locking means for saidtonneau cover includes an actuator positioned in said cabin.
 15. Thearrangement of claim 11 wherein said actuator is electronic.
 16. Thearrangement of claim 11 wherein the means for remotely controlling thelocking means for said tonneau cover further includes a solenoid. 17.The combination of claim 11 wherein said means for remotely controllingthe locking means for said tonneau cover includes an electromagneticwave actuator.
 18. A combination of a lockable, soft, flexible tonneaucover for a bed of a vehicle and a lockable tailgate wherein: said bedof said vehicle has a front wall and two side walls forming three wallsof the bed with said tailgate forming a fourth wall of the bed, saidtailgate being pivotally mounted for movement about an axis between openand closed positions, said tailgate in said open position providing rearaccess to the bed through a tailgate opening extending between anddefined in part by said side walls, said tailgate in said closedposition forming the fourth wall of the bed and preventing rear accessto the bed through said tailgate opening, said tailgate having means forselectively locking said tailgate in said closed position, said tailgatein said closed position defining with said front and side walls an upperopening to the bed of the vehicle, and, means for positioning said soft,flexible tonneau cover in a closed position to cover said upper openingto the bed of the vehicle and prevent access through said upper opening,means for selectively locking said tonneau cover in said closed positionover said bed, and means for remotely controlling the locking means forsaid tonneau cover.
 19. The combination of claim 18 wherein said vehiclehas a cabin and said means for remotely controlling the locking meansfor said tonneau cover includes an actuator positioned in said cabin.20. The combination of claim 19 wherein said actuator is electronic. 21.The combination of claim 20 wherein the means for remotely controllingthe locking means for said tonneau cover further includes a solenoid.22. The combination of claim 18 further including a rear rail, means formounting said rear rail to extend substantially between said two sidewalls of the bed, and means for attaching said tonneau cover to saidrear rail, said rear rail being mounted for movement relative to saidtwo side walls toward and away from said front wall between at leastfirst and second positions, said rear rail in said second position beingfarther away from the front wall than in said first position, said rearrail in said second position extending substantially horizontallybetween the two side walls across the tailgate opening, said tonneaucover being in said closed position when said attached rear rail ismoved to said second position, and said means for remotely controllingthe locking means for said tonneau cover includes means for selectivelypreventing said rear rail from moving from said second position to saidfirst position.
 23. The combination of claim 22 wherein said vehicle hasa cabin and said means for remotely controlling the locking means forsaid tonneau cover includes an actuator positioned in said cabin. 24.The combination of claim 18 wherein said means for remotely controllingthe locking means for said tonneau cover includes an electromagneticwave actuator.